Case for cigarettes or other small articles



March 13, 1962 G. REITZEL 3,024,899

CASE FOR CIGARETTES OR OTHER SMALL ARTICLES Filed July 31, 1959 FIG. u

INVENTOR.

GEO/Q6 REYTZEL A romews MWMW United States Patent 3,024,899 CASE FOR CIGARETTES OR OTHER SMALL ARTICLES Georg Reitzel, Altenmittlau, Kreis Gelnhausen, Germany, assignor to Drescher & Kiefer, Altenmittlau, Kreis Gelnhausen, Germany, a firm of Germany, and Randolph-Rand Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed July 31, 1959, Ser. No. 830,793 4 Claims. (Cl. 206-) The present invention relates to cases, generally substantially rectangular cases, formed of two complementary parts held closed by a closure means and suitable for use as key cases, cigarette cases, cases for small toilet articles and similar uses, and more particularly to the closure means for such cases.

There are known and on the market numerous designs of closure means for cases of the general kind above described. All have in common arelease member protruding from one side of the case. This member when suitably actuated for instance by pushing or pressing, releases a catch holding together the two parts of the case.

it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved case of the general kind above referred to, the closure means of which do not require a release member protruding from the outline of the case and thus visible from the outside. The absence of such externally visible release member of the closure mechanism enhances the general appearance of the case. It lends the case an interesting and surprising effect, it protects the closure mechanism from damage and it also protects to a certain extent the owner against unauthorized and clandestine opening of the case. A person not familiar with the mechanism will find it difficult, if not impossible, to open the case Without visible damage to the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved case of the general kind above referred to, which can be opened only by exerting a pressure upon the parts of the case in a predetermined direction not apparent to anyone unfamiliar with the closure mechanism and which can be closed in the usual manner by pressing the two parts against each other.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved case the closure mechanism of which will positively lock the two parts to each other, but release the same when and only when the two parts are slightly displaced relative to each other and in the predetermined direction.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be pointed out hereinafter and set forth in the appended claims forming part of the application.

In the accompanying drawing a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a case according to the invention in its closed condition.

FIG. 2 is a section of part of the closure mechanism on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 3 is a detail view of a spring associated with the closure mechanism for effecting opening of the case when the closure mechanism is released.

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a section taken on line 55 of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale. 1

FIG. 6 is a section taken on line 6--6 of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale. FIG. 7 is a view upon the lower short side of the case of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the two case parts displaced relative to each other.

3,024,899 Patented Mar. 13, 1962 FIG. 9 is a plan view upon the right hand side of the case of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a section taken on line 1010 of FIG. 8 on an enlarged scale, and

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 7, but showing the casein its opened condition.

Referring now to the figures in detail, the case as shown has a generally rectangular configuration, but the invention is not limited to such configuration. The case may be visualized as being, for instance, a key case, but the key receiving hooks generally associated with such case are not shown as they are not essential for the understanding of the invention.

T he case is composed of two parts 15 and 16. Each part comprises a metal frame 17 and 18 respectively. The frames have an L-shaped cross section forming a long L arm 17a and respectively and a short L arm 17b and 18.5 respectively. Shells are secured to the frames by any means suitable and known for the purpose. The shells may or may not be covered with ornamental material such as leather. The shells and the mounting thereof on the frames do not constitute part of the invention and are hence not described in detail.

The two frames are joined along complementary edges by a hinge means shown as a piano hinge 19. The hinge comprises a plurality of aligned sections 19a and 19b. A leaf spring 20 is inserted in the sections of the hinge and secured therein in twisted condition by any suitable means indicated in FIG. 2 as a dimpling at 21. The leaf spring is so tensioned that it will swing the two parts of the case into the open position of FIG. 11 when the closure mechanism described hereinafter, is released.

Closure Mechanism On the outside of the long L arm 17a along which frames 17 and 18 are hinged to each other, there are provided longitudinally extended guide means shown as tracks 25 and 26. The tracks may extend substantially along the entire length of the respective side of frame 17, or several lengthwise spaced track sections may be provided. A fiat bar 27 is retained and slidably guided in the tracks for longitudinal displacement of the bar relative to the frame 17. One or both tracks are bent over at both ends as shown at 250 to restrain the sliding motion of the bar in the tracks.

All of the hinge sections 19a are secured to frame 18 and more specifically to the short L arm 18b thereof and all the hinge sections 1% are secured to bar 27 as can best be seen in FIG. 4. Accordingly, bar 27 and with it frame 18 can be displaced lengthwise of and parallel to frame 17 within guide tracks 25 and 26. Furthermore, frames 17 and 18 can be pivoted relative to each other about the. pivot axis of the piano hinge, or in other words, the case can be opened and closed by swinging parts 15 and 16 toward and away from each other, leaf spring 20 urging the two parts of the case into the open position of FIG. 11.

On the inside of the hinged side of frame 17 there is provided a housing 30 which may be formed directly out of the material of the frame by a suitable machining operation, or be secured to the frame. A coiled spring 31 is disposed within the housing. One end of the spring is suitably secured to the housing for instance by means of a stud 32 and the other end of the spring is secured to bar 27 through an elongated opening 33 in frame side 17a. For this purpose, bar 27 is slotted at 27a and spring 31 terminates in a hook 31a reaching into the slot and over the bar as shown in FIG. 2.

Spring 31 is so tensioned that it will urge bar 27 and with it frame 18 into a parallel position relative to frame 17 in which the two frames occupy a position in which the two case parts 15 and 16 of the case are in registry. This position is shown in FIG. 1.

As is apparent, the two parts of the case can be displaced relative and parallel to each other. against the action of spring 31 so that they will occupy the position shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 relative to each other. Displacement of the parts is effected by asserting edgewise pressure upon the short sides of parts 15 and 16 in opposite direction as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 9. When such pressure upon the two parts is relaxed, they will be automatically and immediately returned into the position of registry according to FIG. 1.

The relative displacement of the two casing parts is utilized to control the locking and releasing of parts 15 and 16 of the case.

The locking of the case is effected by catch means which are controlled by the relative parallel position of the two parts of the case. Basically, the catch means comprise a locking component on one frame which is in looking engagement with a locking component on the other frame when the two frames are in the position of registry according to FIG. 1 and which is released from such looking engagement when thetwo frames are in the displaced position of FIGS. 8 and 9.

More specifically, a catch hook 40 terminating in a portion 441a is secured to the inside of frame arm 18 protruding beyond frame L arm 18b. Hook 49 coacts with a recess 41 in the corresponding side of frame 17. Recess 41 comprises a slot portion 41:; which extends lengthwise within frame arm 17a and is continued at one end into a transverse portion 41b extended into the short frame arm 17b. As is apparent, hook 40 when occupying slot portion 41a will retain and positively lock the two parts 15 and 16 to each other, but will release the two parts when moved into recess portion 41b.

The Operation the Case Let it be assumed that the case is closed, that is, that the two parts and 16 are in registry and catch hook 41 occupies slot 41a. When it is now desired to open the case, the user displaces the two parts 15 and 16 What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A case comprising two generally rectangular complementary frames, a bar, a piano hinge including a plurality of-knuckle segments alternately secured to the outside of a side of one of said frames and said bar respectively, a pair of guide tracks extending along the outsideof a complementary side of the other frame and slidably receiving said bar to permit displacement of the two frames in parallel planes, swinging of the frames about said hinge opening and closing respectively the case, catch means on the complementary frame side opposite to the aforementioned complementary frame sides coacting with each other to lock the two frames in a position of transverse registry thereof and to release the two frames in a position of displacement relative to each other, and a coiled tension spring disposed along the inside of the frame side having said guide tracks, one end of said spring being connected to said frame side having said tracks and the other to said bar, said spring urging said frames to said position of transverse registry.

2. A case according to claim 1 wherein each of said frames has a L-shaped cross section, one L arm of one frame engaging the corresponding L arm of the other frame in parallel abutment in the closed position of the case, and wherein said catch means comprise, a latch hook secured to the respective side of one frame and a recess engageable with the hook in the respective side of the other frame, said recess having a slot portion extending lengthwise within the second L arm of the respective frame parallel to each other as indicated in FIG. 9. The bar 27, being slidable in guide tracks 25 and 26, permits such parallel displacement. As a result, hook 40a is moved from slot 41a into recess portion 41b and tensioned spring 20 will open the case. The two case parts will automatically return into the position of registry due to the tension of spring 3-1.

To close the case, it is merely necessary to press the two parts 15 and 16 against each other. Hook 40 due to its slanted edge, in conjunction with the yielding of spring 31, will automatically force itself into its locking position in slot 41a.

As is apparent, no part of the closure mechanism protrudes from the peripheral outline of the case when the same is closed. Accordingly, there is no indication to any person not familiar with the closure mechanism how the same can be operated. There is also no danger that any protruding part of the closure mechanism can become entangled with any item such as a handkerchief carried for instance in a ladys handbag which may cause side and a portion extending from said slot transversely into the first L arm of said frame side, said hook occupying the slot in the locking position of the catch means and moving into the transverse recess portion upon parallel displacement of the frames into the position of dis placement relative to each other.

3. A case according to claim 1 and comprising a closed housing for said spring mounted on the inside of the frame side having said guide tracks, said frame side having an aperture within the space defined by the housing, the end of the spring secured to the bar extending through said aperture and, the other end of the spring being secured within the spring housing.

4. A case comprising two generally rectangular complementary frames, a bar, a hinge including parts alternately secured to the outside of a side of one of said frames and said bar respectively, a pair of guide tracks extending along the outside of a complementary side of the other frame and slidably receiving said bar to permit displacement of the two frames in parallel planes, swinging of the frames about said hinge opening and closing respectively the case, catch means on the complementary frame side opposite the aforementioned complementary frame sides coacting with each other to lock the two frames in a position of transverse registry thereof and to release the two frames in a position of displacement relative to each other, and a coiled tension spring disposed along the inside of the frame side having said guide tracks, one end of said spring being connected to said frame side having said tracks and the other to said bar, said spring urging said frames to said position of transverse registry.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 612,572 Robertson Oct. 18, 1898 1,485,221 Gee Feb. 26, 1924 1,923,560 Whittaker Aug. 22, 1933 2,606,774 Zalkind Aug. 12, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 353,628 Great Britain July 30, 1931 353,769 Great Britain July 30, 1931 

